SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health today announced that counties that have attested to meeting the criteria for accelerated re-opening may re-open hair salons and barbershops with modifications such as mandatory face coverings for both barbers or stylists and clients. State public health leaders noted that Californians staying at home and exercising caution when out helped flatten the COVID-19 curve. Public health leaders acknowledge that today’s announcement is also possible based on statewide indicators such as PPE, testing capacity, hospital surge capacity and hospitalizations.

Permitted activities include services that can be provided with both the worker and customer wearing face coverings throughout the service. These include haircuts, hair coloring, blowouts, weaves and extensions, braiding, lock maintenance, wig maintenance and hair relaxing treatments.

Salon activities that cannot be done with face coverings on both the worker and client – or that require touching the client’s face – such as shaving, facial waxing, threading, eyelash services and facials – remain prohibited at this time in all counties. Likewise, nail salons remain closed.

“Together, Californians have limited infections in our state, and because of that work, many counties may make a decision to restart modified hair and barber services,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health. “However, COVID-19 is still present in our communities and we are still at risk. As we venture outside our homes, it is critically important to keep physical distance, wear face coverings in public, and wash hands frequently to help protect yourself and those around you.”

The Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) has finally announced that 1,995 people have allegedly recovered from the COVID-19 virus here in Orange County.

The HCA did note however that while every case of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is reported to HCA, there is no practical way to find out if they’ve recovered. Moreover, many people may have experienced some symptoms of COVID-19, but were have not been tested, making it impossible to know the exact number of COVID-19 infections and recoveries.

The HCA finally came up with an estimate by taking the difference between the prior 28-day cumulative case count and current day mortality to determine the current day recovered total. They also asked that we consider this data to be only an estimate and it should be interpreted with caution.

There are currently 5,578 COVID-19 victims in Orange County including 131 fatalities. There are 180 cases in Irvine. A total of 131 new O.C. cases were announced today. There are currently 269 victims in local hospitals and 106 of them are in Intensive Care Units.

Here is how other major cities in Orange County are faring:

Santa Ana reports 1,032 cases

Anaheim reports 904 cases

Huntington Beach reports 329 cases

Garden Grove reports 286 cases

Orange reports 258 cases

Buena Park reports 160 cases

Newport Beach reports 139 cases

Fullerton reports 184 cases

Westminster reports 108 cases

Tustin reports 89 cases

Costa Mesa reports 104 cases

Fountain Valley reports 53 cases

The California Department of Public Health announced on May 25 the most recent statistics on COVID-19. California now has 94,558 confirmed cases and 3,795 deaths.

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re SickCall ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

IRVINE, Calif. (May 12, 2020): At its meeting on May 12, the Irvine City Council approved a four-phase plan for reopening City facilities, services, and programs that is guided by the State’s Resilience Roadmap.

The plan allows for tennis and pickleball courts to reopen now as the State moves into Stage 2 of its roadmap. Courts will be open for singles play and one-on-one City-led instruction with safety guidelines in place.

When the State moves into Stage 3, City playgrounds can reopen. City athletic fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and stadiums can also reopen for practices and games in Stage 3. Facilities, including Senior Centers will open with strict social distancing and sanitization protocols in Stage 4. The complete four-phase plan is available at cityofirvine.org.

The Council decided to maintain compliance with state directives regarding swimming pools, which are not yet permitted to open. The City will offer online aquatics safety courses, in addition to expanded online classes in arts and recreation.

“We know that residents are anxious for City facilities and amenities to reopen,” stated Mayor Christina Shea. “We all look forward to the day when our fields and courts are busy with athletic events and our senior centers and community centers are full, but we must carefully reopen in a way that protects the health and well-being of our residents and City staff. This plan meets that goal and falls in line with California’s Resilience Roadmap.”

The City’s reopening plan calls for traditional summer programs and all-day summer camps that were scheduled to begin in June to be restructured. The City will incrementally phase in lower risk site-based activities at Community Parks and the Irvine Fine Arts Center, focusing first on outdoor activities. No field trips, excursions, or transport will be allowed.

The Irvine Ranch Conservancy can resume docent-led tours with groups of less than 10 people, following proper protocols, as well as open access days in the Irvine Open Space Preserve, with staggered, monitored attendance. Advance registration, social distancing, and PPE required.

The Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts and Movies on the Lawn will continue with modifications. The Sizzlin’ Summer Concert series is tentatively scheduled to begin July 12 at the Orange County Great Park. The five-concert series will be presented in drive-in format. Attendees can park their cars and enjoy a picnic from home or purchase food from a gourmet food truck. Social distancing protocols will be in place.

Movies on the Lawn will also be held in drive-in format at the Great Park beginning August 1.

To assist reopening of restaurants, the City Council voted to allow expanded outdoor dining for restaurants. Patios, common areas, and parking areas will be utilized to provide dispersed seating and queuing, maximizing social distancing in an open air environment.

Also, the Irvine City Council unanimously voted to implement a COVID-19 drive-through testing program. Beginning the week of May 26, the City of Irvine will provide testing for its residents in a drive-through format. Free antigen testing will be available to all Irvine residents, even if they are asymptomatic. Antibody testing will be available as an “add-on” at a cost of $10 per person.

“As the Councilmember that brought this initiative forward, I am proud to say that we will be able to free offer testing to our community” said Vice Mayor Mike Carroll. “We want to extend testing to as many people as possible; adding antigen and antibody testing will reinforce the expansive health and safety efforts we have put in place since day one.”

The testing site will be located at the Orange County Great Park, and will also accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists. Additional information will be provided in the coming days, including details about how to register for an appointment.

Since its incorporation in 1971, Irvine has become a nationally recognized city, with a population of 281,707 that spans 66 square miles and is recognized as one of America’s safest and most successful master-planned urban communities. Top-rated educational institutions, an enterprising business atmosphere, sound environmental stewardship, and respect for diversity all contribute to Irvine’s enviable quality of life. This family-friendly city features more than 16,000 acres of parks, sports fields and dedicated open space and is the home of the Orange County Great Park. For more information, please visit cityofirvine.org.

The O.C. Health Care Agency is reporting 127 COVID-19 cases in Irvine as of today, April 26, 2020 and 2,074 cases Countywide. One death was reported today and 39 have died to date. A total of 105 new cases were also reported today. There are 148 victims currently in local hospitals and 55 are in Intensive Care Units.

Here is how other major cities in Orange County are faring:

Anaheim reports 285 cases – just ahead of Santa Ana’s 281 cases, for the County lead

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re SickCall ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re SickCall ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re SickCall ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

Today, April 22, the OC Health Care Agency reported a total of 1,753 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Orange County and 119 cases in Irvine. A total of 67 new cases were reported today and one death. Todate 34 victims have died in Orange County. There are 162 victims currently in local hospitals and 70 of them are in Intensive Care Units.

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re SickCall ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

The O.C. Health Care Agency is still reporting 118 total cases of COVID-19 in Irvine as of April 21, 2020 and 1,691 cases Countywide. There were 29 new cases reported today. No new deaths were reported today. To date 33 victims have passed away. There are currently 148 victims in local hospitals and 54 of them are in Intensive Care Units.

As of April 19, local health departments have reported 3,584 confirmed positive cases in health care workers. This includes on-the-job exposures, and other exposures, such as travel and close family contact. As testing capacity continues to increase, and more tests are being conducted directly in physician’s offices and processed through commercial laboratories, local public health officials will not be able to report the source of exposure for every affected health care worker.

Testing in California

As of April 19, more than 290,500 tests had been conducted in California. At least 283,317 results have been received and another 7,200 are pending. These numbers include data California has received from commercial, private and academic labs, including Quest, LabCorp, Kaiser, University of California and Stanford, and the 22 state and county health labs currently testing.

How People Can Protect ThemselvesEvery person has a role to play. Protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense:

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re SickCall ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

The O.C. Health Care Agency is reporting 118 total cases of COVID-19 in Irvine, as of April 20, 2020, and 1,676 cases Countywide. That is the same total Irvine cases that was reported on April 19. A total of 41 new cases were announced today. One victim died today and so far there have been 33 deaths. There are currently 128 victims in the hospital and 52 of them are in Intensive Care Units.

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

Following guidance from public health officials.

What to Do if You Think You’re SickCall ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough or shortness of breath) and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

The O.C. Health Care Agency is reporting 111 COVID-19 cases in Irvine as of today, April 17 , and 1,501 cases Countywide. Three more deaths were reported today with a total of 28 deaths so far. There were 77 new cases announced today and 129 victims are in the hospital – of those 48 are in Intensive Care Units.

Her is how other major cities in Orange County are faring:

Anaheim reports 178 cases

Santa Ana reports 149 cases

Huntington Beach reports 103 cases

Newport Beach reports 90 cases

Orange reports 59 cases

Buena Park reports 53 cases

Garden Grove reports 53 cases

Fullerton reports 48 cases

Mission Viejo reports 37 cases

Laguna Beach reports 36 cases

Costa Mesa reports 29 cases

Fountain Valley reports 24 cases

Westminster reports 24 cases

As of April 15, 2020, there are a total of 26,182 positive cases and 890 deaths in California, according to the CA Public Health Dept.

How can people protect themselves?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). This occurs through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Every person has a role to play. So much of protecting yourself and your family comes down to common sense:

Washing hands with soap and water.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.

Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

Staying away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or health condition, it is important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease, including:

Isolate at home and practice social distancing.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.

Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay away from large gatherings and crowds.

Consider ways of getting food brought to your house through family, social, or commercial networks.

It is also important that you listen to public health officials who may recommend community actions to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19, especially if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including:

Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath

COVID-19 can cause more severe respiratory illness.

What if I have symptoms?

Patient: If a person develops symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough or shortness of breath, and has reason to believe they may have been exposed, they should call their health care provider before seeking care. Contacting them in advance will make sure that people can get the care they need without putting others at risk. Please be sure to tell your health care provider about your travel history. You can also take the following precautionary measures: avoid contact with sick individuals, wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.Health Care Provider: Patients who may have infection with this novel coronavirus should wear a surgical mask and be placed in an airborne infection isolation room. If an airborne infection isolation room is not available, the patient should be placed in a private room with the door closed. Health care providers should use standard, contact and airborne precautions and use eye protection. Please see “Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China” for more information about infection control. The Public Health Department will issue All Facility Letters to regulated healthcare facilities within California with updated information and guidance; these can be found on the AFL webpage.